Reenforcing means for walls



June 29, 1937. G. H. ELLIS V REE'NFORCING MEANS FOR WALLS Filed Nov. 27, 1956 u E n N m m NE 1L E V. WfQm N n M Patented June 29, 1937 UNETED STATES PATENT OFFICE REENFORCING MEANS FOR WALLS Application November 2'7, 1936, Serial No. 112,890

8 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in wall structures and means for reenforcing such structures, and has, among its objects, to so arrange and reenforce board-like elements or slabs of wall structure as to prevent opening of the joints which the slabs are attached.

Features of the invention include: the wall structure; the use of slabs in forming said structure; the reenforcing elements per se and their method of attachment; the specific arrangement of the slabs to form the wall; their proportionate lengths and widths in relation to the spacing distance between the studding; the arrangement of the vertical joints on the studding; the staggered relation of the vertical joints of one horizontal row of slabs with reference to the joints of a contiguous horizontal row; and generally all details of construction of the reenforcing element, and means of connecting it to the slab.

Additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description of the drawing forming a part of this application, and in said drawing.

Figure 1 is a face view showing one embodiment of the invention as applied in the formation of a wall;

Figure 2 is a sectional View of a plaster base showing reenforcing means secured on opposed faces and held in place by a single staple;

Figure 3 is a sectional View of a slab having the 5 reenforcing means secured in the manner shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view showing the reenforcing means secured to a gypsum board;

Figure 5 is a view of the staple for securing the 40 loop element to the wall slab; and

Figure 6 is a View of the looped reenforcing element.

In the drawing, numeral l0 indicates studding against which are laid slabs, ll, of fibrous, gypsum or the like, suitable as a plaster base. These slabs are secured to the studding by means of suitable fastening devices, l2, generally nails. The length of the slabs ordinarily is about fortyeight inches and the width is ordinarily about 50 eighteen inches, each slab in this instance engages four studs, the distance between the studs being sixteen inches. The long'dimension of the slab is transverse to the studding and the end abutment of contiguous slabs of the horizontal rows 55 preferably take place on the studding.

The slabs are formed and laid to abutting joints as shown in Figure 4. The vertical joints, [3, of one horizontal row of slabs, II, are preferably off-set or staggered with respect to those of any contiguous horizontal row as shown.

It is an important object of this invention to v prevent opening of the joint, [4, during plastering and the introduction of plaster, thus lessening the insulating value of the wall. To prevent this opening of the joints, reenforcing elements are provided which, in this embodiment, have the form of looped elements, preferably in the form of a wire, bent upon itself, to provide two arms, l8, convergent in a direction away from the bend, I5. The terminal portions, l9, of each arm are preferably laterally arcuately bent in a direction away from the other to complete somewhat Tshaped reenforcing element. The tip of each arcuate portion is bent in a direction substantially perpendicular to the plane of the arms and these tips are preferably tapered to provide spikes or prongs adapted to be driven into the slab to which the device is attached. A staple, I6, is preferably provided which is adapted to bridge the arms at a point adjacent the arcuate bends to prevent withdrawal of the prongs and to prevent swinging of the arms about the prongs as a pivotal center. The spikes, 20, are preferably driven into one of the slabs at such a distance from the joint, in a direction transversely of the joint, as to cause the arms, 18, to extend across the joint and engage the contiguous slab, I I. To secure the reenforcing element in operative position, when pressure is applied to the face of the upper slab, ll, there is provided a staple, l6, that is attached as shown in Figures 2 and 3. This staple prevents the reenforcing element from swinging about the prongs as a center, when pressure is applied against the face of the slabs.

It is preferred that closed end or the free end of the reenforcing means is bent in such a man ner that it extends outward from the slab, II.

The staples, [6, are preferably pressed firmly into position and their ends are clinched on the opposite side of the slab or in the manner shown in Figure 2 at 22. This staple and the prongs, 20, provide a very rigid structure. The staple is preferably applied at a point adjacent the joint.

As shown in Figure 3, the reenforcing elements are secured on opposite sides of the slab in offset relation to each other. The reenforcing elements may be secured on the major faces directly opposite each other as shown in Figure 2. In case the reenforcing elements are secured direct- 1y opposite each other, the staple, 2i, is used to fasten both reenforcing elements.

The looped reenforcing element not only acts to prevent opening of the joint, but also assists 5 in bonding of the plaster to the surface of the plaster base. It has been found that the particular shape of the reenforcing element acts to reduce the cracking of the plaster. Although the plaster has been omitted for the sake of clearmess, it can be seen that due to the circular crosssection of the wire and the upturned end portion, bonding grooves or corners or notches are provided. For slabs of the dimensions mentioned, the over-all length of the reenforcing element is preferably about two and one-half inches; the length, as measured from tip to tip of the curved portions, l 9, is preferably about one and onehalf inches, the curve of the bend, I5, is preferably about an inch in diameter. The stapie is preferably applied about an inch below the prongs in a direction toward the joint, and as near tothe joint as practicable. Preferably, substantially equal portions of the arms engage respective slabs. The curved portion, i5, is bent in such a manner as to facilitate the erection of the'slabs in the wall and at the same time assist in bonding the plaster.

It will be noted that, as shown, the width of each slab, I I, is substantially equal to the distance between the studding and it will be further noted that the length of each sheet is substantially equal to three times this distance. It will be further noticed that the vertical butt joints are on the studding, and that the vertical joints 3 of contiguous horizontal rows of sheets are staggered relative to one another.

This invention finds valuable application on walls formed by composition fiber slabs, gypsum or the like, to provide a plaster base.

40 As shown in Figure 3 the reenforcing elements arranged on opposite major faces are offset from one another but at the same time are as closely arranged so as not to have the prongs, 20, of the elements on opposite sides interfere with each other.

' The present invention is, however, applicable to any structure in which it is desired to prevent the opening of a joint.

'Eachlooped reenforcing element of this invention is formed from wire which is about oneeighth of an inch in diameter and after application, these wires project from the wall about threesixteenths of an inch and at the closed end, l5, extend farther from the wall. The reenforcing elements, therefore, serve when applied to the plaster side of the wall, as grounds which assist the plasterer in avoiding skinning.

I claim as the invention:

1. In combination with studding, slabs of ma- 0 terial secured to and bridging the studding and formed to provide an abutting joint which extends transversely of the studding, a. plurality of reenforcing structures on opposite faces, each attached to one of two contiguous slabs and ex- 5 tending cross the corresponding joint and engaging the other slabto prevent opening of the joint when pressure is applied against faces of the slabs, each of the reenforcing structures having prongs which are driven into one slab, and a 7 single staple securing reenforcing structures on both sides of the same slab.

2. A plaster-receiving base composed of aplurality. of slabs formed and laid to" provide abutting joints which can be opened by pressure 3,13.

. reenforcing structure is prevented.

plied against the face, and plural reenforcing means arranged across the joint on both sides of the slab to prevent opening as the result of applied pressure, each means having two spaced arms, and each arm having a prong driven into one and the same slab, and means to prevent swinging of two of said reenforcing means located on opposite sides of said slab.

3. A wall structure including studding, slabs of plaster base material secured to and bridging the studding and providing abutting joints which extend transversely to the studding, a series of looped reenforcing structures attached to opposite sides of one of two contiguous slabs, and extending across the corresponding abutting joint and engaging the other slab to prevent opening of the joints when pressure is applied against the face of the slab in a direction toward and at points between the studding.

4. In a wall, slabs of plaster-receiving material provided with partially rounded longitudinal edges, cooperating to form an abutting joint capable of being opened when pressure is applied against their faces, the rounded edges of the slabs providing a depression across and lengthwise of the joint, and means secured onopposite faces and extending across the joint and bridging the depression and engaging the face of the adjacent slab, said means extending across the joint having their free ends turned outwardly from the slabs.

5. A wall structure including studding, slabs of plaster base material secured to and abridging the studding and provided with abutting edges which have a tendencyto open under applied pressure, and a plurality of rigid means attached to opposite faces of one of two contiguous slabs and extending across the abutting joints, said'rigid means one face offset with respect to said rigid means on the opposite face and each of said means attached by prongs driven into one of two contiguous slabs. V

6. A wall structure including studding and sheets of material secured to and bridging the studding and providing abutting joints capable of being opened by applied pressure, and means secured to opposite faces of a sheet near'one edge thereof, and extending outwardly beyond the edge, the free end of said means being curved outwardly from the surface of a sheet. I

7. A plaster base composed of a plurality o slabs formedand laid to provide abutting joints which can be opened by plastering'pressure, and means arrangedaoross the joint and attached to one slab on opposite-sides to prevent opening of the joint by plastering pressure, one end of said means curved outwardly from the surface of the slabs.

8. A plaster base material composed of a plurality of slabs formed'and laid to provide abutting joints which can be' opened by pressure applied against their faces, a plurality of reenforcing structures on opposite faces, each attached to the faces of one of two contiguous'slabs and extend ing across the corresponding abutting joint and engaging the other slab to prevent opening of the joint when pressure is applied against the faces of the slabs, each of the reenforcing structures having prongs which are driven into one slab, and members securing the reenforcing structures to the same slab at a point between the prongs and the joint, whereby swinging movement of the GEORGEQH. ELLIS. 

